The European Union might “respond swiftly and decisively” against what it calls “unjustified” travel bans issued by the United States on five Europeans working on combating digital hatred and misinformation, an EU official has said.
EU Officials Decry US Move as ‘Coercion’
Officials from Europe including Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “coercion and intimidation”, following the travel bans were placed on individuals that were at the heart of campaigns to enact legislation governing US-based technology firms.
“For too long, European activists have led organised efforts to pressure US companies to suppress US perspectives they oppose,” wrote a senior US official in a social media post. “The current administration will not stand for such actions of extraterritorial censorship.”
Broad Criticism Across Europe
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials joined the French president in criticizing the move.
The bans were imposed this week against an ex-European commissioner involved in crafting the EU’s digital governance law, as well as four anti-disinformation campaigners, including Germany and the United Kingdom.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
The DSA is viewed by Washington as a form of censorship, whereas European leaders contend the rules are necessary to control inflammatory language and falsehoods.
This disagreement threatens to become a facet of a much broader existing political and ideological clash between the current US administration and European institutions.
Additional Updates Reported Today
In other legal developments:
- A US district judge has halted attempts to cut security grants to local governments that do not comply with certain immigration enforcement policies. The official ruled the action was “another example” of linking federal aid to adherence to directives.
- Authorization was issued for the dispatch of 350 national guard members to New Orleans ahead of the new year, alongside an ongoing immigration enforcement operation.
- The nation of Palau will consent to take in a limited number of migrants from the US in exchange for increased assistance, after signing a formal agreement with Washington.
Additionally, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit to demand the removal of the current president’s name from a well-known cultural institution in Washington DC.
Experts point out that comments regarding Venezuelan oil align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “economic expansionism”, drawing comparisons with past foreign policy actions.
